Reliable Multicast Transport
charter-ietf-rmt-03

The purpose of this WG is to standardize reliable multicast transport.
  
  
  Initial efforts have focused solely on the standardization of the
  one-to-many transport of large amounts of data. Due to the large
  number of applications that fall into this category, and the sometimes
  orthogonal requirements these applications exhibit, it is believed
  that a "one size fits all" protocol will be unable to meet the
  requirements of all applications. In recognition of this observation,
  this working group will standardize two protocol instantiations,
  initially as Experimental protocols, and then as warranted, in the
  standards track, from the following families:
  
  1) A NACK-based protocol.
  2) An "Asynchronous Layered Coding protocol that uses Forward Error
     Correction.
  
  The WG will carry out protocol standardization in general by composing
  a a set of RFCs that specify
  
  - building blocks: A set of easily-separable coarse-grained modular
  components that are common to multiple protocols along with abstract
  APIs that define a building block's access methods and their
  arguments.
  
  - protocol instantiations: Specifications that define the necessary
  gluing logic and minimal additional functionality required to realize
  a working protocol from one or more building blocks. These
  specifications will also include an abstract API that defines the
  interface between the protocol implementation and an application.
  
  The WG has previously completed work on three documents to assist in
  the standardization process. RFC2887 describes the design-space in
  which the one-to-many transport protocols will be developed. RFC3048
  explains the concepts of building-blocks and protocol
  instantiations. RFC3269 provides guidelines to authors of drafts that
  specify building-blocks and protocol instantiations.
  
  The WG will generate and submit for standardization drafts of the
  following building-blocks for use in the construction of the two
  protocols: congestion control, negative acknowledgments, forward error
  correction, and to address the RFC 2357 security requirements.
  
  Generic mechanisms for router assist are also considered for an
  additional building block. Initial work on the framework for
  router-assist has already been performed, the WG will evaluate whether
  to complete this task basing on available resource and interest.
  
  The WG will also standardize and generate RFCs for the following two
  protocol instantiations: A NACK-based protocol, and an Asynchronous
  Layered Coding (ALC) protocol that uses Forward Error Correction.
  RFC 3450 is the Experimental RFC of the ALC protocol instantiation.
  
  If new requirements are identified that cannot be satisfied with the
  building-blocks and protocol instantiations described above, the Area
  Directors in consultation with the IESG may add additional
  building-blocks and protocol instantiations to the working group
  deliverables.
  
  This working group will work closely with the Internet Research Task
  Force (IRTF) groups on Reliable Multicast (RMRG) and
  Secure Multicast (SMUG), especially for meeting the congestion control
  and security requirements mandated by RFC 2357. This working group may
  work with the Area Directors to recharter to standardize reliable
  multicast for additional scenarios beyond the one-to-many transport of
  bulk data once they are sufficiently well understood.